Maryland CDL — General Knowledge practice
Sharing the Road
Driving safely around motorcycles, bicycles, large trucks, pedestrians, and school buses — and knowing who has the right of way.
Questions reviewed against the official Maryland driver handbook · July 7, 2026
13 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
Study questions with answers
12 sample Sharing the Road questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
1. How should you treat pedestrians, joggers, or cyclists who have their backs to traffic?
Correct answer: Assume they cannot see or hear you and may move unexpectedly
Walkers and cyclists facing away — sometimes wearing headphones — often cannot see or hear you, making them a real hazard.
2. In strong winds, which vehicles have the most trouble staying in their lane, and where is it often worst?
Correct answer: Lighter vehicles, especially when leaving tunnels
Wind makes staying in the lane hard, usually worse for lighter vehicles, and can be especially bad emerging from tunnels.
3. What is a 'blind spot' around your vehicle?
Correct answer: An area you cannot see using only your mirrors
Blind spots are the areas your mirrors cannot show; check them often since other vehicles can hide there.
Source: Maryland CDL Manual — Section 2.4: Looking Ahead and Managing Space
4. Two dangers of traveling right alongside another vehicle are that the other driver may turn into you and that you may be what?
Correct answer: Trapped with no room to change lanes when you need to
Driving beside others risks a sudden lane change into you, and it can leave you boxed in with nowhere to go when you must change lanes.
5. When you must make a right turn too tight for one lane, what is the correct technique?
Correct answer: Swing wide only as you complete the turn, keeping the rear near the curb
Keep the rear of the vehicle close to the curb and turn wide as you finish; swinging left first can invite a driver to pass on your right.
6. When should heavy, slow-climbing vehicles stay in the right lane going uphill?
Correct answer: When a heavy load is slowing them below the flow of traffic
If a heavy load slows you going uphill, stay right when you can, and avoid passing another slow vehicle unless you can do it quickly and safely.
7. What clue often signals an unfamiliar tourist driver who may act unpredictably?
Correct answer: Luggage strapped to the roof and plates issued by another state
Signs of tourists include roof luggage and out-of-state plates; such drivers may stop suddenly or change lanes without apparent reason.
8. How should you react to a driver who appears distracted?
Correct answer: Give them plenty of room and keep a safe following distance
Give a distracted driver extra space, keep your following distance, and be very careful passing since they may drift toward you.
Source: Maryland CDL Manual — Section 2.9: Distracted Driving
9. How can body movement help you predict what another road user will do?
Correct answer: Drivers tend to look in the direction they are about to turn
A driver's head and body movements can hint at a turn or lane change even without a signal, and these clues are easiest to spot in motorcyclists and cyclists.
10. As you get ready to overtake a car, walker, or bicyclist, what should you assume about them?
Correct answer: Assume they do not see you and could move into your path
Always assume the person you are passing does not see you; when legal, tap the horn or flash your lights, and drive so you can avoid a crash anyway.
11. Why should you watch delivery-truck drivers carefully?
Correct answer: Packages or open doors block their view and they may step out or pull into traffic suddenly
Step-van, postal, and local delivery drivers often have blocked vision and are in a hurry, so they may suddenly exit or pull into your lane.
12. Why are rental-truck drivers singled out as a hazard to watch for?
Correct answer: They are often unused to the limited side and rear vision of a large truck
Rental-truck operators are frequently unfamiliar with how much their vision to the sides and rear is blocked, so watch them carefully.
More CDL — General Knowledge topics
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Every Maryland question is written from the official Maryland driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free